Love Tokens and the Heritage of the Indian Ocean

The research project entitled “Love Tokens and the Heritage of the Indian Ocean” is centered on the general topic of tokens of love and the study of sensibilities in Indian Ocean societies. It follows an international conference which was held in 2018, entitled “From Tokens of Love to Archived Relics: Private Life and Material Culture in Indian Ocean Societies” and the publication in 2020 of the proceedings of this scientific event (see https://lovetokens.sciencesconf.org). In the age of social networks, in which private relationships are initiated or continued at a distance and become dematerialized, e-cards, bouquets and virtual kisses are replacing more traditional love tokens. Drawing from these changes and looking at a whole variety of reflections, representations and expressions of romantic and sentimental feelings and discourses over the centuries, the research project proposes two main fields of study: - A first field dealing with the development of heritage funds in the Indian Ocean (press archives, museum funds, family archives...), whether they be linked to known or unknown groups, families or individuals, to artists, writers, and high profile or lower ranking personalities of Indian Oceanic societies. - A second area of research which emerged from a partnership with Reunion Island’s Fine Arts School (École Supérieure d'Art de La Réunion) and deals with the aesthetic notion of landscape as it relates to and reflects tokens and expressions of love.